District Cooperates with Police in School Theft Investigation

The has issued a statement regarding the recent arrest of two of its employees.

have charged two school district employees related to the ongoing investigation into the theft and resale of district property.

Police arrested Martin Chappell and Frederick Lange. Both are longtime employees in the district school bus depot.

In response to the recent arrests, the school district issued the following statement:

Two of our vehicle maintenance employees of long standing have recently been arrested.  Since this is a personnel related matter, the School District is not at liberty to comment further or provide any additional information.

In June, the Board retained the firm of Eisner Amper to assist in a forensic audit.  We believe that these activities while reprehensible, if found to be true, would soon have been detected because of the Board's proactive stance.   

The taxpayers of Bensalem deserve to have full accountability of their tax dollars and the Board is committed to ensuring that the taxpayers are protected and the laws of Pennsylvania will be fully enforced.  New controls have been put into effect immediately.

As part of Pennsylvania’s annual safety inspection program, every school transportation vehicle has been inspected by the Pennsylvania State Police in the last four weeks to ensure vehicle safety and readiness for the start of the 2012-13 school year.  Additionally, this week, our transportation coordinator and appropriately licensed vehicle maintenance personnel have reviewed every student transportation vehicle for state inspection level safety quality.

We are fully cooperating with the authorities and will continue to do so.

The police investigation is on-going and anyone with additional information is asked to call Bensalem Township Police at 215-633-3719.

Tips can be called in or e-mailed ~ 215-633-3660 or tips@bensalem-township.org